Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition has launched a Breastfeeding Welcome Here campaign to foster a supportive environment for mothers to breastfeed their babies in public. Through the campaign, local businesses placed a “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” logo in clear view for all to see upon entering the business establishment. The businesses also pledged to provide a welcoming environment, where breastfeeding mothers may sit in any area open to the general public and enjoy a friendly attitude from staff and management while breastfeeding. Staff members were trained on how to handle complaints about breastfeeding and inform those who raise concerns that breastfeeding in public is protected by Maryland law. Click here for a list of businesses who have taken the pledge.

The aim of the campaign is to build public awareness and acceptance of breastfeeding in public and to increase breastfeeding duration by empowering women to breastfeed in public in safe locations. Click here for more information.

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4/17/2017

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is Baby Friendly!
Congratulations to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for becoming Maryland’s 8th hospital to achieve the prestigious Baby Friendly Hospital status! Now 25% of Maryland Hospitals offering maternity care have earned this designation. Baby Friendly recognizes hospitals that have set and reached standards for supporting breastfeeding to give mothers receiving care at those facilities the best chance of meeting their breastfeeding goals. Click here for more information on Baby Friendly Hospitals.

12/5/2016

Free CME – DHMH Sponsored Breastfeeding Webinars
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has posted a series of six 1-hour pre-taped webinars. DHMH worked with MBC to identify speakers and topics.

11/17/2016

Maryland mPINC Score Rising
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) assesses infant feeding care processes, policies, and expectations of staff in maternity care settings. The state of Maryland’s mPINC score has been improving over the past few years. It increased from 61 in 2007 to 82 in 2015, and is now 13th out of 53. For more information on mPINC, view the report and watch the video developed by the CDC.

We are health professionals, moms, educators, policy-makers, organizations, businesses and others who promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. We have been assisting breastfeeding families and professionals since 2002. The Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition is a member coalition of the United States Breastfeeding Committee.